6 Fukui Information to Fill Your Mind
Fukui Prefecture hugs the coast going through the Sea of Japan and, relying on who you ask, seems to be both like a large tadpole, an elephant head, a flying squirrel in midair, a top-heavy dinosaur or — to a choose few — the star youngster from 2001: A Area Odyssey from above. No matter its supposed form, Fukui would not make many must-visit lists. Whereas this assortment of enjoyable information from this oft-forgotten prefecture is not going to possible assist in that regard, it could stimulate a cocktail party dialog gone stale.
1.
Fukui Prefecture produces about 95 % of Japan’s optical frames
About 50 producers in Fukui — particularly Sabae and Fukui cities — account for nearly the entire home optical body manufacturing. About one in six Sabae Metropolis residents work at one of many tons of of eyeglass frame-related firms. The area has produced frames for over 100 years and was one of many first on this planet to make sturdy, light-weight titanium frames. When you’ve watched the 2003 film The Matrix Reloadedthen you definitely’ve seen this Fukui export in motion: Neo’s signature sun shades used Fukui-made frames.
extra information: Japan Glasses Manufacturing unit
2.
Fukui is the navel of Japan
Whereas not marketed as such, Fukui Prefecture has — allegedly — been measured to be the central level of Japan’s archipelago. Inside that, Fukui Prefecture has its personal central marker, named “Fukui no jushinten” (Fukui’s heart of gravity), however is usually simply known as “Fukui no heso,” or Fukui’s navel. This navel inside Japan’s navel could be discovered at 136 levels east longitude and 35 levels north latitude. Guests who make an effort to achieve the realm will probably be rewarded with informative indicators pointing to the precise location of Fukui’s stomach button.
extra information: Seek for Fukui’s Middle of Gravity on Google Maps
3.
Fukui Prefecture is Japan’s primary producer of convex site visitors mirrors
Not content material with being essentially the most prolific optical body manufacturing area, Fukui additionally makes 70 % of Japan’s street reflectors. Fukui Metropolis-based NAC Company is the nation’s main producer of this area of interest merchandise, that means one small firm in Chubu has a serious stake in Japan’s street security.
extra information: NAC Company
4.
Fukui Prefecture boasts Japan’s lowest tower
Different towers might brag about being the tallest, the latest and even provide essentially the most leisure choices, however Tojinbo Tower is none of those. As an alternative, it has been honored with the doubtful title of being Japan’s lowest tower. At 100 meters above sea degree, this 55-meter-high tower lower than one tenth of Tokyo Skytree’s measurement but it surely makes up for it in character. The commentary deck offers a 360-degree panoramic view of the Sea of Japan and the close by rugged shoreline, the place the Tojinbo columnal joints jut out of the ocean. That is one in every of solely three locations on this planet the place you may see cliffs like this, the opposite two being in North Korea and Norway.
extra information: Tojinbo Tower
5.
Fukui is (on common) one in every of Japan’s most humid prefectures
With an annual common of 77 % in 2020 and comparable numbers in previous years, Fukui Prefecture commonly makes the highest three checklist of Japan’s most humid prefectures. This does not at all times imply it is the most popular — a lot of the wettest months are in winter.
6.
Fukui Prefecture is dwelling to Japan’s “Port of Humanity”
Tsuruga Port was the one port in Japan to obtain refugees twice when disaster occurred within the first half of the twentieth century: as soon as after the outbreak of the Bolshevik revolution and as soon as throughout World Battle II. A whole bunch of Polish orphans discovered themselves exiled to Siberia in the course of the early Twenties with no place to go — nor to return. With the assist of the Japanese Crimson Cross and particularly that of a nurse named Take Hagiwaravirtually 900 orphans have been safely transported to Tsuruga to remain in Japan, earlier than transferring on to the USA and, finally, again to Poland.
Lower than 20 years later, Chiune Sugihara defied nationwide authorities orders to acquire transit orders for Jewish refugees, permitting them to enter Japan by way of Tsuruga Port. The Port of Humanity Tsuruga Museum is a good place to study extra.
extra information: Port of Humanity Tsuruga Museum
Lighthouse photographs: ©JNTO